Self-latching gate



T. CH ILDERS.

SELF LATCHING GATE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. 1920.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

a f/ 7 h /M X/ Z M M W W 1 $792 gap Swuaulfoz UNITED STATESTTPAVTENTVOFFICE.

THOMASCHILDERS, 0F ZEIGLER, ILLINOIS.

SELF-"LATCHING- Gerri e To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS CHILDERS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Zeigler, in the county of'Franklin, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Selflhatching Gate; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to gate latches and has for its object to provide a gate latch, of the slidable keeper type wherein the keeper is normally forced outwardly by a spiral spring. Also to provide gravity actuated vertically disposed slidable members for engaging notches in the upper edge of the keeper for holding the locking keeper in closed position.

A further object is to provide inclined surfaces on the upper edge of the keeper for forcing the vertically slidable members upwardly when the keeper moves outwardly under the impulse of the spiral spring for positioning the vertical slidable member in registration withthe notches with which they engage for locking the slidable keeper.

With the above and other objects in View the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings: I s

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a gate and a portion of a fence, showing the latching mechanism applied to the gate, and in the act of moving into locked position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the, front face plate removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a portion of a fence and 2 the free end of a swinging gate. Secured to the fence post 3 is a keeper plate 4 which keeper plate when the gate is closed, is engaged by the sliding keeper 5, said keeper 5 being slidably mounted between the hor1- Specification of Letters Patent. 7 PatentedApjl. 12,1921; applicationdfiled.September a, 192 0. ar N0.4 0 8, 968

keeper 5 being normally held in its outward 1 position ,by means of the spiral spring 9 which'passes around the reduced portion! and engages the shoulder of the keeper.

Securedftothe 'sidesiof; the gate by means;

of bolts 10. are; plates. 11 between which platesthekeeper 5 slides and is guided. h pper ide 2 ing keeper 5, said lugs when the gate is unlocked rest upon the inclined surfaces 14. However when the keeper 5 is forced outwardly by the spiral spring 9, the lugs ride up the inclined surface 14 and drop into the notches 13 when the keeper bolt reaches the extreme outer position thereby securely locking the gate.

g The lower end of one of the locking bolts 16 is provided with, a hooked portion 19, which hooked portion extends through a transverse notch 20 in the bar 21 of the gate and has its vertical portion 22 slidably mounted in an elongated recess 23 of one ofthe plates 11. The,Lshaped member of the locking bolt 16 is guided in its upward and downward movement within the notch 20 and'recess 2-3 and is prevented from beforcing the knob 18 upwardly, thereby moving the lugs 18 out of engagement with the notches 13. Lugs 18 being clear.- of the notches 13, the operator forces the keeper 5 rearwardly until its forward end is out of the keeper plate 4, the gate then being free to open. The gate closing operation is re-' versed to the one above set forth.

I H of the keeper 5 is notched. asat' 13 and provided with inclined surfaces 14. Slidably mounted in grooves 15 ,p

It will. be seen that when the slidable 'lzee'per 5 is moved inwardly with the lugs 18 Y of the bolt 16 in engagement with the in clined surfaces that said lugs 18 will be engaged by the shoulder 13 and the shoulder 13 which will limit the rearward movement of the slidable keeper.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is A gate latch comprising a keeper slidably mounted between horizontal rails of a gate and between plates secured to said rails, a spring for normally forcing said keeper outwardly, vertical slidable bolts slidable in guide slots of the plate, lugs carried by the upper ends of said bolts adapted to engage notches in the upper sides of the slidable keeper inclined surfaces adjacent the keeper notches inclining forwardly and downwardly, said inclined surfaces forming means for guiding the lugs of the vertically slidable bolt into their respective notches in the keeper when said keeper is forced forwardly by the coiled spring andiforming means for guiding said lugs into engagement with limiting stops when the keeper is moved rearwardly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

O'r'ro SNIDER. 

